May 30, 2006

Those two reasons, along with the facts that D-Wade has been playing out of his mind, Shaq is playing like he is 7 years younger than he is, and all of Miami's role players are playing their roles have opened this series wide up for Miami. Miami was my pre-season pick, but after the 64 win season it looked like Detroit might be unstoppable. Detroit has proven, however, that stoppable they are, and with Miami playing like a team on a mission Detroit's days are severely numbered.

I can't help but wonder where the Shaq haters from all those "Kobe for MVP" threads went. Doesn't Shaq owe all those rings to Kobe? Wasn't Kobe going to take the Lakers to the promised land without the Diesel? Wasn't Shaq gong to be old, fat and broken down during the playoffs? Yeah, enjoy the Laker-flavored koolaid, kids.

TBH... now is that really fair? Wade did look a little like a Kobe imitator making that "junior, junior sky hook" last night... Seriously, I am with you all the way, I can't stand when people put Kobe on such a high pedestal, and forget that Shaq has been the most dominant player in the NBA for a decade or so. When the man is healthy, you wouldn't choose anyone over him on the playground, you know?

I'm a Piston fan from way back...but I think I smell toast. Wade's over 70% from the floor?!?! Add the fact that the Diesel is running people over like the old days (C'mon, how hard is it for a man that size to score when he gets to bump the defender 3 or 4 times until they're right under the hoop and then he jams it or baby hooks?). The Pistons play their best when their backs are to the wall, but unless Wade goes ice cold for three straight AND the Pistons manage to score a whole lot more than they have so far, it's a done deal for the Heat. It's a roller coaster year for Detroit sports. The Wings got embarassed by a hot goalie, the Pistons are getting torched by Wade, the Tigers can't figure out how to beat the White Sox or Yankees yet, and the Lions are...well, the Lions.

Shaq is playing like he is 7 years younger than he is Holy crap, yes he is. He ran the court last night! Honestly, as a Mavs fan, the Heat are beginning to worry me a bit more than they have all season long. Detroit just seems to be falling apart at the seams. If Miami wins game five and the Pistons go down after winning just one game, do they (Detroit) make a serious off-season change? Larry Brown may be looking for a new job ;).

All this Kobe vs. Shaq, Shaq vs. Kobe talk...C'mon people give it a rest! It's been what, three seasons ago since the odd couple (Shaq and Kobe) separated and the re-birth of the dream team fell apart? I'm a die hard Laker fan even in their darkest hour, but if those two (or should I say three, if you count Phil) men can forgive and forget, shouldn't we as fans of the two do the same?

What troubles me the most as a Pistons fan is all of the alleged in-fighting and finger pointing. The Wallaces in this series are no different than Billups' rumored coach and player call outs during the Cleveland series. Its a complete mental and morale breakdown that continues to compound itself. So what if Flip didn't emphasize defense enough during the regular season, start personally emphasizing it now ... on the court. I didn't think defensive players of the year forgot how to apply D that easily. Also, this lack of emphasis during the regular season led to a 'disappointing' 90.2 ppg opposing team average. Only good for third best in the NBA. Way to let us down Flip ... errr ... I mean quit your whining and win.

I think it's time for Joe D. to recruit a scorer or a super star with talents like K.G. A player like K.G. can replace both Wallaces and will only lack in 3-point shooting. Is K.G. available? He can hook up with the Pistons and get that ring! He could add that scoring they need on the block and that 15-17 jumper with defense!

Just for the record: you can be a "Kobe deserves MVP votes" supporter AND not be a Shaq hater, like myself. But of course you can, your grumness. You also use correct pronunciation and spelling the vast majority of the time, so that should have clued you right in that I wasn't talking about you. I'm sure you know the type, though. U R A FAG KOBE RULEZLOL!!!!!!!!!!

No names, but someone needs to get off Kobe's sack... There are a lot of great player's past and present! And yes Kobe is an elite player almost in a class of his own. But let's not forget the players who helped make it a little easier for him (and Shaq); the likes of Derek Fisher, D. George, R. Horey, and even ppl like Mark Madsen and Rick Fox. That's the difference between the Lakers of then and now! I'm a franchise fan not a single player fan! so when like Shaq, and Kobe is long gone I'll still be a fan of the only franchise team in the league with the most championship wins than any other team out there. Also, let's not negate the fact that the Heat seem to have taken on a little of a Laker-esque apperance with Shaq, Dwayne, Gary and others...

Mark Cuban said it best "that a GMs job in the NBA is to keep his own job" and I think that is why Detroit is in the shape they are. Since they won their championship JD has not wanted to change a thing. He hasn't brought in anyone new in 3 years and then is a poor drafter. So give Flip a chance, get him a few younger guys, shooters, etc and Detroit will be in good shape for next year. Put a fork in their 06 season.. they are done!

You are all heretics! The Pistons will persevere and win the series! You are all throwing them away like yesterday's news but they'll show you. Five is always better than two and Shaq is old and fat! And...and... /sob

Alright, CTAL this is for you If you think Shaq gets to bump whoever he wants as hard as he wants and he is always in favor by the refs, YOU ARE RETARDED. Watch the next game, look how much every detroit player leans on Shaq when trying to guard him. They have to, but It's still ridiculous. They are at a 45 degree angle trying to balance the strength. OR watch how many times Shaq gets hit in the midsection on the way up. If Shaq doesn't dunk the ball on a play, there's an 80% chance he was fouled. And if he does, there is a 50% chance. Listen.... the Heat are playing awesome basketball right now. Shaq is focused. And mark my words, no one will remember "Kobe and Shaq" after this year. Wade looks an awful lot like a certain someone right now, mentioning no names....... 90s bulls.... air time..... nike..... space jam..... so if you put him and the most dominant big man, maybe ever on the same team, they better get a ring. By the way, all the talk about Flip saunders needing to be fired? That's ridiculous. He shouldn't be punished for getting beat by a team that is playing better. Not after one year. PLUS.... who are they going to get to replace him. He helped with the best record in the NBA. and Billups is pretty much their coach anyway, just like Nash won coach of the year last year. Detroit is a Great team, that is getting beat by a Great team that is hot.

oh c'mon Snika... How could you type such foul words and compare Wade to MJ??? There is not one once of comparison between the two! I don't take anything away from Wade, but I'm sure there are no kids on the playgound claiming to be wade when going for a layup or a dunk; anyone btwn 20-30yrs old have at least one time or another went for a layup shouting out Jordan's name. Comparing Wady to MJ is a slap in the face to all of the great players that have been playing the game and been on the grind for more that three years! So if everyone here agrees with me, you should apologize to all of us who love the great game of basketball!!!

Ying Yang Mafia, I'm with you. I'm not declaring the Pistons dead until the last horn sounds on these guys. They've recovered from five deficits of 3-1 or 3-2 in the past four postseasons. They are the model of grittiness when it comes to playoff time. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see the Pistons go home (I can't stand Rasheed Wallace and his peacock feather pronouncements and arrogance). But they've proven they can fight back. Hopefully Wade and Shaq and Co. can bury them quick and get it over with. As for the Wade to MJ comparisons, exrayvision, D-Wade does have one very striking resemblance to Jordan. When crunch time hits, Wade is at his best. Three straight games of taking over the fourth quarter is not a career, and I am one of the biggest Jordan fans on the planet, but even so, Wade has gotten off to a good start. If he can get the Heat to the finals and win I'd say he's on his way to being mentioned with the all-time greats of the game. That is, he's ON HIS WAY. I didn't say he was, and I didn't say he's going to be, I'm just saying he has gotten off to a good start. There is nothing wrong with comparing players at early stages of their careers to Jordan at similar stages of his career. That's a natural thing for sports fans to do.

Hey Snika, You're right about Shaq, to a point. He's a great player, but he does get some breaks that none of the other big men do. The Pistons who guard him (and most of the guys from any of the other teams, too) do lean into him, but they have to. Shaq gets the ball, turns his back to the hoop, and starts to back in. If the defender plays him straight up and gets knocked flat, he doesn't get the offensive foul call, so he leans into Shaq to get a little leverage and try to hold him out. Shaq's response is to stick out the butt, then straighten up and rock his shoulders back, then butt, then shoulders knocking the defender back a half step each time until he's in position. Next, he raises the elbows and rotates to the hoop, putting an elbow into the defenders' chest, shoulder, or head. He doesn't swing the elbow wildly and take heads off, he just sweeps guys out of the way with it. I don't blame him at all. He takes what the officials give him and he'd be stupid not to, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating to watch him do it to your team. He's a great player and I don't hate him. If they take out the Pistons (and that's a REALLY small if), I'm pulling for them to win it all.

I don't take anything away from Wade, but I'm sure there are no kids on the playgound claiming to be wade when going for a layup or a dunk Yeah, and nobody buys Dwayne Wade jerseys either. I think you underestimate the popularity of D-Wade.

Hey guys, don't take my words the wrong way! I respect what Wade does. My comment was said to make the point that with his career still being so young that it's a little premature to say that he's at a Jordan caliper now, which it seems that's what Snika was suggesting. And just as absurd as my comment about D Wade's name not being call on the black top is the same as asuming he's at the same level as MJ was at the height of his career. I do agree with donnnny in saying that he is on his way to becoming that great of a player! But even still...look at the ppl he has to helps him; if they (namely Shaq) were taken out of the equation, like he was with Kobe, could he still accomplish what he's done so far?? That's the bigger question!